English magic and imperial madness : the anti-colonial politics of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell /
Regency England was a pivotal time of political uncertainty with a changing monarchy, the Napoleonic Wars, and a population explosion in London. In Susanna Clarke's fantasy novel Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, the era is also witness to the unexpected return of magic. Locating the consequenc...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Jefferson, North Carolina :
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers,
[2021].
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| Series: | Critical explorations in science fiction and fantasy ;
78. |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | Regency England was a pivotal time of political uncertainty with a changing monarchy, the Napoleonic Wars, and a population explosion in London. In Susanna Clarke's fantasy novel Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, the era is also witness to the unexpected return of magic. Locating the consequences of this eruption of magical unreason within the context of England's imperial history, this study examines Merlin and his legacy, the roles of magicians throughout history, the mythology of disenchantment, the racism at work in the character of Stephen Black, the meaning behind the fantasy of magic's return and the Englishness of English magic itself. Looking at the larger historical context of magic and its links to colonialism, the book offers both a fuller understanding of the ethical visions underlying Clarke's groundbreaking novel of madness intertwined with magic, while challenging readers to rethink connections among national identity, rationality and power. |
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| Physical Description: | ix, 168 pages ; 23 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 159-164) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781476686271 1476686270 |